VIDEO: Election Night Brought Reflection, Plans
Campaign finance, an election issue, could become an issue for the council.
Councilwoman Bridget Donnell Newton and Mayor Phyllis Marcuccio discuss their plans for the upcoming Rockville City Council term at a post-election victory party. Newton and Marcuccio on Tuesday each won re-election to a second term in their respective offices.
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Even before the final vote tallies were announced on Tuesday night, Councilman Piotr Gajewski was all but conceding defeat in the Rockville mayoral election and reflecting on the campaign.
“I think those of you that are present here know that there’s a lot at stake,” Gajewski said to supporters gathered at his campaign headquarters on Rockville Pike. Based on early results reported by his poll watchers Gajewski said that he expected Mayor Phyllis Marcuccio, Councilwoman Bridget Donnell Netwon and former Councilman John Hall to be elected. They were.
“So this will be a very different council going forward and obviously the dynamic will change,” Gajewski said.
Gajewski said that a complaint filed against his campaign about a Sept. 30 campaign fund report was crafted to imply that because he accepted contributions from developers, his mayoral administration would be corrupt.
“It’s trying to create the perception of bad ethics,” Gajewski said. “And I’m sorry we’re in an environment where that takes place.”
While Gajewski reflected on the campaign, two victorious incumbents looked forward to the upcoming term. Early Wednesday morning, at a victory party across town, campaign contributions were on Newton’s mind.
Newton said she’d like the council to consider lowering the campaign contribution limit for individual donors from $1,000 to $500.
“I think Rockville politics do not need to be so heavily controlled by money,” she said.
Money was on the mind of Marcuccio, as well.
“People are struggling,” she said. “Every one of us has been impacted in some ways by this dwindling economy. Either our retirement plans are going to pot or somebody’s lost a job or somebody’s lost the ability to pay for their mortgage. I mean, this is an economic nightmare we’re going through. I don’t think we can afford to ignore that.”
Kathy Reitz
11:23 am on Saturday, November 12, 2011
I think the citizens of Rockville would be better served by holding elections in a Congressional voting year. By the numbers it looks to me that more votes are cast in the local high school student council elections than are for City offices. The lack of voter turn out can be blamed on the voters themselves who seemingly trust a few to control the many without their input. However this situation is bad for Rockville and bad for the surrounding area. One way to encourage voters to participate in local elections and issues is to make it easier for them to pay attention. LImiting contributions is only going to make candidates and their issues even more invisible and will further encourage candidates to seek money from outside the City limits. And I might add that the owners of commercial property in Rockville subsidize the life style to which the citizens have become accustomed. They may have homes outside the City limits and not be able to vote for City officials but they are certainly going to participate to protect their holdings in the City. They will find a way to do this regardless of the personal contribution limit.
Doug in Rockville
8:12 pm on Tuesday, November 15, 2011
I agree Kathy--limiting contributions is hardly a good step. I'm kind of astounded this is even on the radar for the Council. Unreal. The amounts raised and spent in Rockville on an election that is for a city of 60,000+ residents is TINY! In other jurisdictions, this sized city or district might attract spending of ten times what we get. The Rocville City Council's politics are NOT controlled by money, and that insinuation is offensive to well-informed people.
Jim Coyle
8:53 am on Thursday, November 24, 2011
A major reason that the election turnout is low is due to the lack of an organized political process that Rockville lost a few elections ago when the % of turnout was higher. We had two non-partisan political parties that organized for the election, neighborhood by neighborhood. In addition, we had a separate voter registration where candidates and supporters registered new voters each election thus invigorating interest in the election. The need in Rockville now if for new organizing activities to get our newer residents registered and involved.
Rockville's City Charter calls for non-partisan elections; this is why the elections are held in the off-years from State and National elections. Thus, we focus on local issues rather than the national partisan ones. Many local government across the Country hold non-partisan elections for the same reason. I think it serves Rockviulle well.